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theguardian.com
Trump threatens ‘more powerful and obnoxious’ tariffs, amid confusion in UK and EU – business live
Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsThe London stock market has dipped slightly in early trading.The FTSE 100 index is down 19 points, or 0.18%, at 10,668 points. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Novo Nordisk sinks 15% after weight loss drug fails to match Eli Lilly's in trial
Novo Nordisk stock fell 15% Monday after it said its next-generation weight loss drug didn't meet its primary target.
cnbc.com
Treasury yields hold steady as investors weigh new Trump tariffs
U.S. Treasury yields were little changed to start the week as investors weighed President Donald Trump's latest tariffs.
bbc.com
When is the Spring Statement and what might be in it?
Chancellor Rachel Reeves will give an update on her plans for the UK economy when she gives a statement alongside an economic forecast on 3 March.
cnbc.com
Trump demands Netflix fire Susan Rice as DOJ probes Warner deal
Rice argued during a podcast last week that "it is not going to end well" for corporations, news organizations, and law firms that "bent the knee" to Trump.
cnbc.com
Natural gas prices pop as huge winter storm slams U.S. northeast; New York City issues travel ban
It comes as cities and towns across the U.S. east coast brace for a major late-winter storm.
bbc.com
Netflix boss defends bid for Warner Bros as Paramount deadline looms
Ted Sarandos says his company's offer is better for industry growth as it is "buying assets we don't currently have".
bbc.com
UK set to be among worst hit by Trump's 15% global tariff
US allies will suffer the biggest hit from the president's latest announcement, think tank Global Trade Alert says.
cnbc.com
Finland's IQM to become one of Europe's first listed quantum companies at $1.8 billion valuation
The transaction will see the company hit a $1.8 billion valuation.
bbc.com
US tariff policy 'hasn't changed', says Trump's trade representative
Jamieson Greer says the legal basis for global import taxes will simply adapt to Friday's Supreme Court ruling.
cnbc.com
Oil pulls back as U.S.–Iran talks set to resume: Here’s where negotiations stand
Tensions have remained on high alert throughout the Middle East for weeks after U.S. President Donald Trump indicated a strike on Iran could be imminent.
cnbc.com
Europe hits back at 'pure tariff chaos' from the U.S., warning trade deals are at risk
European officials have reacted with disbelief to President Donald Trump's latest tariff policy, warning that trade deals could be at risk.
bbc.com
Porn company fined £1.35m by Ofcom over age check failings
Ofcom's £1.35m fine on 8579 LLC is the largest it has levied under the Online Safety Act so far.
theguardian.com
Netflix boss says $83bn Warner Bros takeover will benefit industry
Comments by Ted Sarandos follow Donald Trump’s demand for company to remove Democrat from boardTrump warns Netflix of ‘consequences’ unless it pulls top Democrat from boardBusiness live – latest updatesThe boss of Netflix has launched a fresh defence of its $82.7bn (£61bn) takeover of Warner Bros Discovery (WBD) assets, as he defended the streaming company’s contribution to the UK film and TV industry.Ted Sarandos claimed Netflix buying WBD would bring “growth” to the entertainment industry, amid attempts by rival Paramount Skydance to launch a counter offer for the studio business which he said would do the opposite. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘Progressive membership’: Ukraine’s economic resilience shows future for EU business tie-ups
Joint ventures on defence, green energy and telecoms suggest how country could join bloc in stages rather than wait for full statusWhen the first Ukrainian-designed drone to be made in a German factory rolled off the production line last month, Volodymyr Zelenskyy knew it marked a turning point for the economy.With drone-making joint ventures also well advanced in Finland and Denmark, war-torn Ukraine has shown how its businesses can adapt and break out of their bomb-threatened domestic confines, becoming more integrated into the EU’s industrial network with each passing day. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Bitcoin falls as much as 5% as Trump tariff moves raise uncertainty
Bitcoin fell by as much as 5% after President Donald Trump announced plans to raise global tariffs to 15%, rattling risk sentiment across markets.
cnbc.com
European stocks start the week lower as markets react to new Trump tariffs
European stocks started the week in negative territory as global markets react to U.S. President Donald Trump's latest global tariffs policy.
cnbc.com
Sam Altman defends AI resource usage: Water concerns 'fake,' and 'humans use energy too'
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman defended the resource use of AI on Friday, arguing that water concerns were "fake" and comparing it to human energy use.
cnbc.com
South Korea's Kospi hits fresh high as Asian markets brush off Trump's latest tariff moves
Asia markets rose Monday amid tariff uncertainty as U.S. President Donald Trump announced over the weekend that he would increase global tariffs to 15%.
cnbc.com
Some U.S. allies see higher duties under new tariffs, rivals see relief, trade body says
U.S. allies and partners like the U.K. and the European Union facing higher tariffs but countries like Brazil, China and India get a reprieve.
cnbc.com
U.S. importers still paying Trump's illegal tariffs even after Supreme Court ruling
Billions in U.S. cargo are still being slapped with Trump's "reciprocal" tariffs even after being struck down by the Supreme Court ruling.
bbc.com
What now for Asia after Trump's tariffs struck down?
After the Supreme Court ruling, Trump said he would impose new levies of 15% on goods entering the US.
cnbc.com
CNBC Daily Open: New Trump tariffs are up after U.S. Supreme Court strikes some down
The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday struck down much of President Donald Trump's "reciprocal" tariffs. But Trump didn't take their decision lying down.
theguardian.com
Wickes kitchen fitting was a recipe for disaster
I’ve been without a hob in my new kitchen for three months after an emergency engineer was forced to disconnect itWhen Wickes installed my new kitchen, I noticed an odd, worsening smell that I put down to the ongoing works.It was nearly two months later that I realised it was gas. My supplier dispatched an emergency engineer, who discovered a leak in the newly fitted hob and categorised it as an immediate danger. The gas supply to the hob was disconnected and Wickes sent a replacement, but no one came to install it. Continue reading...
bbc.com
'It's cheaper to ship gluten-free food from the UK'
A Guernsey mum is calling for cheaper and a greater choice of gluten-free foods for her family.
cnbc.com
Trump unveils ‘Tech Corps’ to promote American AI abroad
As part of efforts to spread its global AI footprint and counter China, Washington has announced a new "tech corps."
theguardian.com
Meet the Australian farmer planning to get the US hooked on camel milk – video
After a decade of supplying the domestic camel milk market from a 130-hectare (320 acre) farm in south-east Queensland’s Scenic Rim, owner Paul Martin wants to start supplying the product to the United States. He hopes to export 60,000 litres this year – the first shipment in what he believes could one day become a major new commodity for the country. Guardian Australia's Joe Hinchliffe visited Martin's farm – one of the first commercial camel dairies in Australia – to learn how you milk a camel, and what its milk tastes like How an Australian farmer is planning to get US consumers hooked on camel milk Continue reading...
cnbc.com
How the AI debt binge shattered hyperscalers’ ‘unspoken contract’ with investors
Hyperscalers' AI capex spending is approaching "unheard of levels"
cnbc.com
China’s leverage rises before high-stakes summit as Supreme Court curbs Trump tariffs
Supreme Court's decision to invalidate Trump's tariffs has strengthened China's hand ahead of the leaders summit in April, at a time when Beijing seeks U.S. concessions on Taiwan.
theguardian.com
Why are homegrown apples in the UK more expensive than imported bananas?
From flooding in Peru to the fight for fair wages, a lot more goes into the price of fruit than what supermarkets charge consumers forWhy have apples increased so much in price in the UK? They seem much more expensive than bananas, even though many are homegrown, and so don’t have to travel halfway around the world.It seems bananas (sorry) that fruit grown in the country where it is being sold costs more than produce which has been shipped thousands of miles. But, unlike other goods, such as petrol, the price we pay at the supermarket for fresh food has become detached from the cost of getting it there. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
CNBC Daily Open: Trump's reaction to Supreme Court tariff ruling seems to cause more uncertainty
The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday struck down much of President Donald Trump's "reciprocal" tariffs. But Trump didn't take their decision lying down.
bbc.com
How budget fast fashion is taking small-town India by storm
More Indians in small towns are now shopping for affordable brands instead of unlabelled goods in the bazaars.
bbc.com
Are you cut out for living and working in Antarctica?
Jobs are available on the icy continent for chefs, plumbers, carpenters and even hairdressers.
theguardian.com
UK job vacancies ‘fall to lowest level since pandemic’
Advertised roles dropped 3% last month to 695,000 – first dip below 700,000 since January 2021, job site Adzuna saysThe number of job vacancies in the UK has tumbled to the lowest level in five years, research suggests, falling to levels not seen since the pandemic.The number of jobs being advertised slid by 3% in January to 695,000, according to the job search site Adzuna, marking the first time advertised vacancies have dropped below 700,000 since January 2021. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
DHS abruptly reverses suspension of TSA PreCheck
The TSA said its PreCheck airport screening lanes are operational, hours after the DHS said the faster security checkpoint services would be paused.
cnbc.com
Adopt this simple sleep habit if you're tired of rushing, says time management expert: It's 'the least sexy, but the most impactful'
If you want to have more time in the day to get things done, and feel better throughout the week, give yourself a bed time, says researcher Laura Vanderkam.
theguardian.com
Employers should contribute to universities | Letters
Johnny Rich proposes a sustainable funding model for higher education. Plus letters from Henry Malt and David GleaveOn the subject of student debts (Student debt is a generational injustice. Why are we squeezing graduates harder than the super-rich?, 16 February), Gaby Hinsliff writes: “If the government has better options, then let’s hear them sooner rather than later.” Any better option must address the problem that the courses that universities offer – brilliant though they mostly are – aren’t what the economy needs and so aren’t maximising returns.Universities are funded to offer the courses students want to study, not what society and employers value most. Understandably, young people pursue choices based on their ambitions rather than the national interest. This creates an oversupply in forensic science, for instance, and skills shortages in engineering. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Tories would scrap ‘debt trap’ of high interest student loans, says Kemi Badenoch
Education secretary Bridget Phillipson suggests priority is grants for poorer students rather than cutting interestKemi Badenoch has said the Conservatives would scrap the “unfair debt trap” of high interest rates on student loans, piling pressure on Labour ministers to tackle the growing outrage over the high costs.The education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, admitted the system of plan 2 loans had “problems” but suggested the government’s priority would be maintenance grants for poorer students, rather than tackling the high interest rates. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
The Guardian view on the funding crisis at the National Gallery: the public should not pay the price | Editorial
Financial difficulties at one of the UK’s most prestigious institutions are a sign of the times. But maintaining free access to great art must be a priority“The National Gallery is doing a great job isn’t it?” David Hockney reflected in 2024. “Everything in the collection is good, every single picture is good.” Judging by recent performance, the artist would seem to be right. The gallery’s blockbuster Van Gogh exhibition closed in January last year after a record-breaking 335,000 visitors. Its 200th anniversary celebrations, including the opening of the newly designed Sainsbury Wing and rehang, attracted a 60% rise in visitors since May.But barely 10 months later, the art world is digesting the stark news that the National Gallery will face a deficit of £8.2m in the coming year. Proposed cuts could include fewer free exhibitions, higher ticket prices, less international borrowing and job losses. Two huge cash donations of £150m each are ringfenced to build an ambitious new wing for contemporary art, not for daily running costs. The National’s predicament is a grim reflection of the perilous state of the country’s cultural sector as a whole. Last year the Tate lost 7% of its workforce, and staff took strike action over “endemic low pay”; jobs have been also lost at London’s opulent Royal Academy. Continue reading...
bbc.com
The uncertainties facing businesses and consumers after Trump's tariff changes
Businesses say questions remain after US President Donald Trump announced he will impose global tariffs of 15%.
theguardian.com
Lamborghini pulls plug on plans to launch all-electric supercar
Company will shift focus to hybrids, citing drop-off in EV demand among sports car lovers who ‘miss the noise’The Italian supercar manufacturer Lamborghini has abandoned plans to make all-electric vehicles, and will instead focus on making plug-in hybrid cars, after a drop-off in demand for EVs among its wealthy clientele.Lamborghini unveiled its first all-electric concept car, the Lanzador, in 2023, but it is no longer planning to put it into production. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
The world order we’re leaving behind may be replaced by no order at all | Eduardo Porter
In the world being ushered in by Trump, power will prevail over cooperation. We will come to rue having taken this pathThe Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney, inspired a wave of enthusiastic nodding among the cosmopolitan crowd gathered in Davos last month when he took to the podium and proclaimed that the world order underwritten by the United States, which prevailed in the west throughout the postwar era, was over.The organizing principle that emerged from the ashes of the second world war, that interdependence would promote world peace by knitting nations’ interests together in a drive for common security and prosperity, no longer works. The US blew it up. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Funding approved to reduce cold deaths
Citizens Advice's Warm and Well scheme in North Yorkshire will receive the money over three years.
theguardian.com
‘We want to rebuild trust’: fired CDC workers form group to combat Trump’s war on science
Former employees stepped up to create the National Public Health Coalition to advocate for public health after Trump’s cuts to the agencyAbby Tighe thought she had landed her forever job. She joined the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in December 2023, managing a national youth substance abuse prevention program. The project focused on rural communities, and Tighe, whose family is from Appalachia, was proud to be using her public health training to support often-overlooked parts of the country. “The CDC was different than anywhere else I’ve worked,” says Tighe. “People didn’t care about their own ambitions as much as they cared about the larger mission. It was always my dream to work there.”That dream ended a year ago, when Tighe received a form email on 14 February letting her know the Trump administration was firing her. Classified as a probationary worker, she was one of the first to lose her job in what quickly became a dramatic downsizing of the CDC workforce. To date, the current administration has either fired or is in the process of firing more than 4,000 CDC employees – a third of the agency. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Blackwater founder Erik Prince has joined the drone-warfare fray in Ukraine, SEC filings reveal
Battle-tested Ukrainian startup that advertises a ‘Killbox’ drone recruited Prince as non-executive chairAfter multiple sources previously told the Guardian that Erik Prince – Maga ally and founder of the now defunct mercenary company Blackwater – was looking to work with Ukraine’s invaluable drone sector, recent Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) documents confirm he now is.Swarmer, which bills itself as a battle-tested Ukrainian startup specializing in autonomous drone software, filed for an initial public offering and has recruited Prince to help sell the company as non-executive chair. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Trump’s trade war risks undermining his hopes of hefty US interest rate cuts | Graeme Wearden
Upping tariffs may have lifted the president’s mood but it is a headache for the Federal Reserve and its next chairDonald Trump and Denis Healey don’t have much in common. One of the greatest prime ministers Britain never had shares little of his famous hinterland with what some historians see as one of the worst occupants of the White House.But Trump would be well advised to remember Healey’s first law of holes – when you’re in one, stop digging Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Ospreys fans dismayed as club faces axe amid crisis in Welsh rugby
Welsh Rugby Union is to cut number of professional teams from four to three, with Ospreys the likely choiceFor Ian Gough, a lock forward who had been dropped by the Wales national rugby union team, signing with Swansea’s Ospreys in 2007 was life-changing: he credits his time at the club with resurrecting his international career.“It was great fun playing for the Ospreys,” he said. “They did it the hard way, ground their way up, and the supporters embraced that identity and went with them on that journey to becoming a good side. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
China overtakes US as Germany’s top trading partner
Friedrich Merz to meet Xi Jinping in Beijing, with goods worth €251bn traded between two countries in 2025China has overtaken the US as Germany’s top trading partner, figures have shown, as the chancellor, Friedrich Merz, prepares for his first visit to Beijing since taking office.Merz will head to China on Tuesday and will be welcomed with military honours on Wednesday in Beijing by the prime minister, Li Qiang, before later meeting the president, Xi Jinping, for talks over dinner, his spokesperson Sebastian Hille said. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
India delays Washington trade visit as U.S. tariff policy shifts, source tells CNBC
The negotiators want to 'evaluate the latest developments', the source says, following the U.S.'s move to raise its global import tariffs to 15% from 10%.
bbc.com
Trump says he will increase his new global tariffs to 15%
After most of his tariffs were outlawed on Friday, Trump announced new global tariffs of 10% - which he says he has now increased to 15%.
bbc.com
Key social issues identified in charity report
Each year, Citizens Advice selects social policy areas for analysis based on its clients' issues.
theguardian.com
High energy prices threaten UK’s status as manufacturing power, business groups say
CBI and Energy UK report finds 40% of firms have cut investment as electricity costs remain far above pre-Ukraine levels‘It’s a ticking timebomb’: food producers sound alarm on rise in energy chargesThe UK is at risk of losing its status as a major manufacturing centre after a sharp rise in energy prices that has forced about 40% of businesses to cut back investment, according to a report by the CBI and Energy UK.In a stinging message to ministers, the report said British businesses – from chemical producers to pubs and restaurants – were being undermined by a failure to cap prices and upgrade the UK’s ageing gas and electricity networks. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Romance fraud: warning over scam that turns victims into insurance cheats
Insurers say cases of scammers manipulating people into staging crashes and filing bogus claims are under-reportedRomance fraud typically evokes images of people being tricked out of their life savings by partners they meet on dating sites, but some scammers use a different tactic: recruiting unsuspecting victims into fake insurance claims.The scam involves a fraudster convincing their partner, or a person they are dating, either to say they have witnessed a car accident, or to take out an insurance policy and file a bogus claim in order to secure a payout. Continue reading...
bbc.com
MPs to discuss inquiry into trade envoy role after Andrew arrest
A cross-party committee will also look into the appointment and accountability of UK trade envoys.
theguardian.com
Thailand moves to cut sugar in popular drinks amid health drive
Major chains agree to halve default sweetness, but street vendors and cafes remain outside sugar tax rulesA crowd of customers, holding phones aloft, watch intently as Auntie Nid mixes up her bestseller: an iced Thai tea.Condensed milk is poured into a glass, followed by three heaped tablespoons of sugar, and then freshly strained tea. The end product – a deep orange, creamy treat – is poured into a plastic bag filled with ice. Continue reading...
bbc.com
'It is a catastrophe' - the man battling to stem rising youth unemployment
Alan Milburn returns to his hometown of Newcastle as he undertakes a review into the growing numbers of young people out of work.
cnbc.com
Berkshire was a net seller of stocks in Buffett's final quarter as CEO
During Warren Buffett's last quarter as CEO, Berkshire Hathaway sold more equities than it bought, continuing to whittle away at its big Apple and Bank of America stakes and slashing its already modest Amazon.com holding.
theguardian.com
Don’t be fooled by recent good news, the UK economy is still in a precarious state
Labour MPs may clamour for bolder spending, but – like their Tory and Reform counterparts – they ask for the unaffordableToo many Labour MPs want it all, and no amount of pleading from the top of government about the depleted public finances seems to make a difference.The mainly leftist MPs want all the wrongs of the last 15 years put right and quickly. Their next opportunity to demand more cash arrives when Rachel Reeves delivers her spring statement on 3 March. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Five key takeaways from the Supreme Court's landmark decision against Trump's tariffs
What's far less certain is the longer-reaching impacts as the economy and markets again adjust to a changing landscape.
theguardian.com
US farmers are rejecting multimillion-dollar datacenter bids for their land: ‘I’m not for sale’
Families are navigating the tough choice between unimaginable riches and the identity that comes with landWhen two men knocked on Ida Huddleston’s door last May, they carried a contract worth more than $33m in exchange for the Kentucky farm that had fed her family for centuries.According to Huddleston, the men’s client, an unnamed “Fortune 100 company”, sought her 650 acres (260 hectares) in Mason county for an unspecified industrial development. Finding out any more would require signing a non-disclosure agreement. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Trump’s global tariffs have finally been overturned. What next? | Steven Greenhouse
The US supreme court ruled against the president. Let’s hope the court removes its pro-Trump glasses on other issues and stands up for the rule of lawThere’s no denying that the US supreme court’s long-awaited ruling that overturned Donald Trump’s global tariffs is important, and if the ruling turns out to be a harbinger that the court is ready to abandon its startling sycophancy toward the US president, it could prove hugely important. The ruling this Friday is the first time during Trump’s second term that the justices have struck down one of his policies. Not only that, the policy they struck down is Trump’s signature economic policy – he has used tariffs to bash, lord over and terrorize dozens of other countries and make himself the King of the Economic Jungle.In the court’s main opinion, joined by three conservative justices and three liberals, the chief justice, John Roberts, used some sharp language to slap down Trump’s tariffs, writing that the constitution specifically gives Congress, not the president, the power to impose taxes and tariffs. (Roberts noted that tariffs are indeed taxes.)Steven Greenhouse is a journalist and author, focusing on labour and the workplace, as well as economic and legal issues Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Cemented locks and deflated diggers: the war over privately run allotments
With waits for council plots in England decades-long, Roots is renting out green space – but some communities are digging inWhen police arrived at the field outside Bristol in October 2023, two old cars, wheels removed, were blockading the gates. Protesters had hauled them across the entrance to stop developers building on the slice of north Somerset green belt. The threat was not housing or industry, but a company building vegetable patches.Roots builds privatised allotments to give city dwelling customers a place to grow food. It was co-founded in 2021 by Christian Samuel, Ed Morrison and William Gay, who were frustrated by a 28-year waiting list for a plot in their area of Streatham, south London. “We thought: ‘This is crazy’,” says Samuel, 32. “‘Why don’t we just build our own?’” Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘Reimagining matter’: Nobel laureate invents machine that harvests water from dry air
Omar Yaghi’s invention uses ambient thermal energy and can generate up to 1,000 litres of clean water every dayA Nobel laureate’s environmentally friendly invention that provides clean water if central supplies are knocked out by a hurricane or drought could be a life saver for vulnerable islands, its founder says.The invention, by the chemist Prof Omar Yaghi, uses a type of science called reticular chemistry to create molecularly engineered materials, which can extract moisture from the air and harvest water even in arid and desert conditions. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Decline in remote jobs risks shutting disabled people out of work, study finds
Research project warns fall in homeworking roles could undermine efforts to reduce unemploymentA decline in the number of jobs for people who need to work remotely, including those with disabilities, could undermine the government’s efforts to reverse rising unemployment, according to a two-year study.More than eight in 10 respondents to a survey of working-age disabled people by researchers at Lancaster University said access to home working was essential or very important when looking for a new job. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
The supreme court’s tariffs ruling puts Trump on notice with a bloody nose
The conservative-heavy court had largely given Trump everything he desired – until now, when two of his three nominees turned their back on himAfter an agonising year in which the US supreme court has stood aside and watched while Donald Trump has run roughshod over the constitutional separation of powers, the highest judicial panel has finally stirred itself to set boundaries on the president’s increasingly regal pose.Friday’s supreme court ruling declared Trump’s sweeping tariffs unlawful, yanking from the president the bloodied cudgel which he has used to beat foreign friend and foe alike. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
U.S. trading partners cheer Supreme Court tariff ruling — but businesses must still navigate 'murky waters'
The U.S. Supreme Court voted 6-3 to strike down large parts of President Trump's tariff policies Friday.
bbc.com
Rare-breed horse centre cuts back amid cost woes
The stud continues but a visitor centre and cafe closes as the rare-breed centre takes stock.
cnbc.com
Chaos, confusion and $200 billion dreams: What I saw at India’s AI summit
India hosted one of the world's biggest AI events this week, but it was marred by impossible traffic and a lack of organization.
theguardian.com
‘Psychological torture’: Spanish tenants fight back against housing ‘harassment’
Court in Madrid will soon decide whether developers are using construction to force people out of their homesWhen the Madrid building where Jaime Oteyza had lived since 2012 was sold to an investment fund two years ago, a local tenants’ union swiftly warned him what to expect.First the tenants would be told that none of their rental contracts – regardless of their expiry date – would be renewed, the union said. Then, as the 50 or so families in the building grappled with what to do next, a series of construction projects would probably be launched in the building to ramp up pressure on them to leave. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Tech giants commit billions to Indian AI as New Delhi pushes for superpower status
Tech and world leaders flocked to New Delhi for the India AI Impact Summit
theguardian.com
Survivor of financial abuse invited to advise ministers after Guardian report
City minister Lucy Rigby acts after woman faced repossession of house burned down by controlling husbandA woman who was nearly killed by her abusive husband has been invited to advise the government on measures to support victims of financial abuse after the Guardian highlighted her story last weekend.Francesca Onody was left homeless and penniless when her husband doused their cottage with petrol while she and her two children were inside. Her husband, Malcolm Baker, died when the property exploded. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Making Tax Digital: are you ready for HMRC’s self-assessment shake-up?
Tax authorities warn sole traders and landlords to act, as the biggest change to self-assessment in decades loomsSpring is “the time of plans and projects”, wrote Leo Tolstoy in Anna Karenina. For hundreds of thousands of self-employed people and property owners, those words are ringing true – and have never felt more daunting.This spring, HM Revenue and Customs is introducing the biggest shake-up of the self-assessment tax system in decades. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
What was Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s trade envoy role?
Backed by Labour and Conservative figures, he was a controversial choice when appointed in 2001Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office, bringing his former role as the UK’s special representative for international trade and investment into focus. He denies any wrongdoing. But what was that role? Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘Doubling down on meat’: is the UK’s love affair with vegetarian food over?
McDonald’s, Wagamama and others scale back plant-based choices in the UK in favour of ‘high-margin’ meat-led dishesIn 2021, vegetarianism and veganism were booming and menus reflected it. Restaurants and fast-food chains rapidly expanded their meat-free offerings, racing to meet growing demand from diners. McDonald’s launched its first plant-based burger, joining a wave of operators embracing non-meat options.Fast forward to 2026 and the landscape looks markedly different. Last month, the fast food chain announced it was axing most of its vegetarian range – sparing only its McPlant burger – owing to weak sales. Wagamama has removed some vegan dishes from its menu, while Domino’s has also scaled back its plant-based options. The final Veggie Pret, a standalone concept store from the high street sandwich chain that started in 2016, closed in February 2024. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Is £70 becoming harder to justify? The rise of cheaper blockbuster games
As top games such as GTA 6 are speculated to cost $100 (£74), some developers are deliberately pricing lower.
cnbc.com
Supreme Court strikes down Trump tariffs, rebuking president's signature economic policy
Trump, as recently as Thursday, has talked up the consequences of the Supreme Court striking down his tariffs prior to the seismic ruling.
theguardian.com
Trump announces 10% global tariff after supreme court ruling – video
The US president says he will impose a 10% global tariff after the supreme court found his current use of tariffs illegal blocked it. Trump called the decision a disgrace Continue reading...
bbc.com
UK agrees drone defence plan with four EU allies
The scheme will seek to take inspiration from Ukraine's drone manufacturing programme.
theguardian.com
AI hit: India hungry to harness US tech giants’ technology at Delhi summit
Narendra Modi’s thirst to supercharge economic growth is matched by US desire to inject AI into world’s biggest democracyIndia celebrates 80 years of independence from the UK in August 2027. At about that same moment, “early versions of true super intelligence” could emerge, Sam Altman, the co-founder of OpenAI, said this week.It’s a looming coincidence that raised a charged question at the AI Impact summit in Delhi, hosted by India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi: can India avoid returning to the status of a vassal state when it imports AI to raise the prospects of its 1.4 billion people? Continue reading...
bbc.com
Trump tariffs ripped up global trade order. What now?
If you think the Supreme Court ruling heralds a return to pre-Trump business as usual - think again.
bbc.com
KFC, Nando's, and others ditch chicken welfare pledge
Wingstop, Burger King, and others have walked away from an industry commitment to avoid using fast-growing chickens
theguardian.com
‘It’s survival of the fittest’: the UK kebab chain seeking an edge with robot slicers
German Doner Kebab aims to open at 25 new sites this year with self-service screens and healthy options aimed at gen Z They are already packing our groceries and delivering shopping. Now robots are coming to the kebab shop, alongside self-service screens and loyalty apps, as takeaways look for ways to tackle rising costs.German Doner Kebab (GDK), a perhaps surprisingly British-owned chain that has been springing up across the country, has turned to technology to keep its fast food business buzzing in the face of rising costs and tough times on the high street. Continue reading...
bbc.com
US economy slows in final months after turbulent year
Overall the economy grew 2.2% last year, holding up despite pressures from changes to tariff and immigration policy.
bbc.com
Asos co-founder dies after Thailand apartment block fall
Quentin Griffiths co-founded Asos in 2000 and remained a significant shareholder after leaving the firm five years later.
cnbc.com
Who's laughing now? China’s humanoid robots go from viral stumbles to kung fu flips in one year
Chinese humanoid robots are having a moment in the spotlight after a standout performance at the country's annual Spring Festival Gala.
bbc.com
Lobbying firm co-founded by Mandelson goes into administration
Global Counsel's clients cut ties with the firm over Lord Mandelson's links with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
bbc.com
When the retail staff can't help you
This customer might be feeling trolled, in this scene from Small Prophets.
bbc.com
New Year's sport supplement buying adds to January retail sales surge
Continuing strong sales from online jewellers after a recent spike in gold prices also helped drive the increase.
bbc.com
Higher tax helped UK government reach record January surplus
The government took in more from tax receipts than expected, official data suggests.
cnbc.com
'Canary in the coal mine': Blue Owl liquidity curbs fuel fears about private credit bubble
The private credit boom is facing a new test after Blue Owl Capital permanently restricted withdrawals from one of its retail-focused debt funds.
bbc.com
Starmer 'appeasing' big tech firms, says online safety campaigner
Baroness Kidron tells the BBC the PM has being "late to the party" in regulating social media.
theguardian.com
France and Germany agreed to build the fighter jet of the future. Now they can’t agree who is in charge
FCAS, which also involves Spain, is imploding at a high-stakes moment for Europe, as threat rises from RussiaFrance and Germany’s plan to build a fighter jet of the future, planned to come with a swarm of drones and a “combat communications cloud”, is collapsing.Friedrich Merz, the German chancellor, said this week that the €100bn programme no longer worked for him. He insisted it was “not a political dispute”, but a technical one. France needs a jet that can carry nuclear weapons and launch from aircraft carriers, while Germany does not. However, the problems go back much further. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
OpenAI and Anthropic’s rivalry on display as CEOs avoid holding hands at AI summit
OpenAI’s Sam Altman and Anthropic’s Dario Amodei had an awkward moment at a major AI summit, with the two CEOs of competing AI giants opting not to link hands.
theguardian.com
Experience: I’m the last traditional clog maker in England
I cut small trees around Offa’s Dyke, then shape the wood by hand I never wanted to be part of an unsustainable society. I’ve always tried to live as peaceful a life as I can, outside the big cities. Now I am the last person left in England making clogs by hand. I spend most days in my studio in Kington, Herefordshire, carving green sycamore wood that I collect myself, hand-dyeing the leather and making sure the soles are as near perfect a match to someone’s foot as possible. I don’t think you can have a more peaceful life than that.I grew up in Ceredigion, surrounded by sheep. There were no jobs in the area and in 1976 I had to go on benefits. I developed extreme anxiety after breaking up with my first girlfriend. Convent schooling and boys’ boarding schools weren’t the best places to learn to develop relationships and I needed to find something therapeutic to do. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Live Nation sees strong ticket sales as monopoly lawsuit looms
The entertainment giant's revenue surged last year as 159 million fans attended its concerts.
bbc.com
Epstein eyed record label investment to access women, files suggest
His associate said the music industry was "related to P", a way Epstein apparently often referred to women.
bbc.com
How do you modernise mango farming?
India's mango farmers are being urged to innovate as climate change makes cultivation "unpredictable".
theguardian.com
Reporter confronts Melksham councillors over punchbag bearing his face found in town hall – video
The journalist Joe McCann brought a photograph of the punchbag bearing his image to a council meeting in the Wiltshire town of Melksham, demanding an explanation. One councillor apologised 'unreservedly' for what he described as a 'bad joke'An earlier headline incorrectly stated that the councillors were members of Wiltshire Council. The video was recorded at Melksham Town Council. Continue reading...
bbc.com
The two farms in Senegal that supply many of the UK's vegetables
During winter in Britain fresh produce is sent by cargo ship from the West African nation every week.
theguardian.com
Should we be impressed or worried by China's humanoid robot display? – video
China Media Group's 2026 Spring Festival Gala drew widespread attention with a performance of humanoid robots that appeared to do martial arts alongside young performers. However, as the videos spread, viewers expressed both admiration and unease over the accelerating development of the machines. Experts have mixed views. China’s dancing robots: how worried should we be? Continue reading...
bbc.com
Why youth unemployment is rising
Unemployment in the UK rose to its highest rate in nearly five years at the end of 2025
bbc.com
Netflix and Paramount are battling for Warner Bros. Who is likely to win?
What to know about the two firms' blockbuster battle to control Warner Bros Discovery.
bbc.co.uk
File on 4 Investigates
Can boxing do more to look after its fighters?
bbc.com
Reddit's human content wins amid the AI flood
Reddit says its human contributors are valued amid an internet awash with AI-generated content.
bbc.com
Trump eyes Venezuela visit – but obstacles to his oil plan remain
The US president wants American energy firms to start extracting the crude but they are reluctant.
bbc.com
Why you should consider switching bank accounts
Martin Lewis explains why now might be a good time to think about changing your bank account.
bbc.com
The US economy is growing - so where are all the jobs?
As hiring rates and job openings drop, some worry a tough job market could be here to stay.
bbc.com
Get a grip: Robotics firms struggle to develop hands
Developing a durable and affordable hand is one of the biggest challenges in robotics.
bbc.com
Who is billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe and how did he make his money?
The industrialist and Manchester United co-owner has apologised over comments he made about immigration.
bbc.com
The Dutch love four-day working weeks, but are they sustainable?
The Netherlands has the lowest working hours in Europe, but some say it is harming its economy.
bbc.com
How £50m 'fish disco' could save farmland
Innovative tech scares fish away from nuclear cooling pipes.
bbc.com
Why food fraud persists, even with improving tech
Even with sophisticated technology it is still difficult to detect fake foods.
bbc.com
Plane makers chase Asia's super-rich with luxe new private jets
Parts of the aviation industry are shifting towards wealthy customers and selling a more luxurious type of international travel.
bbc.com
The real impact of roadworks on the country - and why they're set to get worse
There is a fine balance between the benefits of improved infrastructure, versus the cost of disruption. Does the country have it right?
bbc.com
Why the railways often seem to be in such chaos over Christmas
Parts of Britain’s rail network will close for engineering work over the festive period - but is that the right time to do it?
bbc.com
Budget 2025: What's the best and worst that could happen for Labour?
Three days in, after a tax U-turn and partial climbdown on workers' rights, Laura Kuenssberg looks at what impact Budget week might have.
bbc.com
Has Britain's budget watchdog become too all-powerful?
Ahead of this week's Budget, some have accused the Office for Budget Responsibility of being a "straitjacket on growth"
bbc.com
The curious case of why Poundland is struggling during a cost-of-living crisis
Why - in an age where so many of us are feeling the financial pinch - are some budget shops on UK high streets having such a tough time?
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